Baltimore Orioles vs Detroit Tigers Picks and Predictions September 21st 2024

After 5-homer barrage, Orioles seek encore vs. Tigers

From Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, the Orioles host the Tigers, with the game getting started at 4:05 PM ET. BSDET is carrying the Tigers on TV, and they are the underdog on the money line today (+108). The money line odds have the Orioles at -127, and they are 2nd in the AL East with a record of 86-68. The Tigers are 4th in the AL Central at 80-74.

Reese Olson is starting for the Tigers, while the Orioles have Cade Povich on the mound. Baltimore comes in on a two-game winning streak, while the Tigers have won four of their last five.

Detroit vs. Baltimore Key Information

• Teams: Tigers at Orioles
• Where: Oriole Park at Camden Yards Baltimore
• Date: Saturday, September 21st
• Betting Odds BAL -127 | DET +108 O/U 8.5

The Tigers Can Win If…

Detroit is sending right-hander Reese Olson to the mound today vs. the Orioles. He has made 20 starts this year and has a record of 4-8 with an ERA of 3.50. Looking at his overall numbers, opponents are batting .236 this year, and he has a WHIP of 1.21. In his last outing, Olsen finished with a no-decision, giving up four earned runs in 2 1/3 innings of work. Before that, he had won two straight starts. One of his worst outings came on September 16th vs. the Royals, where he gave up four earned runs in 2 1/3 innings of work. Home runs have been an issue for Olsen, as he has allowed seven homers this year.

Heading into today’s game, the Tigers offense is averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 18th in the league. This is pretty much in line with how they have performed at home and on the road this season. As a team, they are batting just .234, which is 16th in the league, and their on-base percentage of .299 is one of the worst marks in the MLB.

Riley Greene comes into the game as the Tigers’ top home run hitter, with 24 long balls, and he is also leading the team in RBIs (71). Greene has gone deep four times in his last 10 games, but he is batting just .256 in that stretch. Colt Keith is on a five-game hitting streak and is batting .264 for the season. During his streak, Keith is 12/39 with two homers.

• The Tigers are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Tigers are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Detroit has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Tigers have an average of 3.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Tigers are 6-4
• Looking back across the Tigers last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Detroit has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Tigers have averaged 4.1 runs per game on offense

The Orioles Can Win If…

Left-hander Cade Povich gets the start for the Orioles today as he faces the Tigers at home. This year, he has made 14 starts and has a record of 2-9 with a 5.74 ERA. Povich’s WHIP for the season is 1.54, and opponents are batting .271 off him this year. In his 14 starts, he has turned in three quality starts. Povich’s most recent outing came on September 15th, where he took the loss, going five innings, and giving up two earned runs on two homers. Before that, he had given up at least four earned runs in three straight outings.

As a team, the Orioles are the top home run hitting team in the league and are 1st in the league in isolated power. Overall, they are 5th in the league in scoring, averaging 4.8 runs per game. This number jumps up to 5 runs per game when they are on the road. As a team, they are batting .248, which is 8th in the league.

Anthony Santander has been the Orioles’ top power threat this season, as his 43 home runs are 3rd in the league. However, he is batting just .238 for the season and has gone just 4/26 in his last seven games. Gunnar Henderson has been hot of late, going 9/28 in his last seven games, and is also on a three-game hitting streak.

• The Orioles are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Orioles are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Baltimore has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Orioles have an average of 3.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Orioles are 4-6
• Looking back across the Orioles last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Baltimore has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Orioles have averaged 3.6 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For a money-line pick in this Tigers vs. Orioles matchup, we are leaning towards the Tigers to come out on top. And despite our projections pointing to this being the 2nd lowest-scoring game of the day, we are leaning towards taking the over. Looking at today’s starters, we have Reese Olson as our 12th ranked strikeout pitcher compared to Cade Povich, who has the 10th worst projection among today’s starters.

MLB EXPERT PICKS, PREDICTION & BETTING TIPS

When the Baltimore Orioles rediscovered their power at the plate, home runs came in bunches. Now, as they face the Detroit Tigers in the second game of a crucial three-game series, they hope the wins will multiply just as quickly.

Coming off back-to-back victories, the Orioles (86-68) will aim for a third consecutive win Saturday. Their 7-1 win over Detroit in Friday’s series opener was fueled by an explosive display of five home runs, with two apiece from Colton Cowser and James McCann, plus one from Anthony Santander. It marked their first game with multiple players hitting multiple home runs in over three years.

McCann, whose offensive surge played a significant role in the victory, noted the contagious nature of hitting. “Hitting is contagious, right? So all it takes is that one guy to come with a big hit and the next thing you know, it follows on with everyone else in the lineup.”

Orioles Chasing AL East Title

Baltimore, still trailing the division-leading New York Yankees (90-64) by four games in the American League (AL) East, is fighting to stay in the race. Their two-game win streak is their first since early September, a crucial turnaround as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Manager Brandon Hyde hopes this offensive outburst signals a return to the form that saw the Orioles dominate earlier in the season.

“We haven’t had homers in bunches in a while,” Hyde remarked. “We did in the first half [of the season], and it’s good to see it coming back now when we need it.”

With only two home games left before a pivotal series against the Yankees in New York, the Orioles are looking to keep their playoff hopes alive by closing the gap in the division race.

Tigers Battling for Wild Card Spot

On the other side, the Detroit Tigers (80-74) are also playing meaningful games. They’re one game behind the Minnesota Twins for the final AL Wild Card spot, making every contest critical as they battle for a postseason berth. After a four-game win streak was snapped with Friday’s loss, the Tigers will need to bounce back quickly to avoid slipping further behind in the standings.

“You just keep playing,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, remaining optimistic despite the loss. Center fielder Parker Meadows echoed that sentiment, acknowledging the Orioles’ offensive firepower but stressing that the Tigers are ready to fight back. “They came out swinging. It’s a three-game series for a reason, so we’re going to come out [Saturday] and give it everything we’ve got.”

Pitching Matchup: Povich vs. Olson

Saturday’s game will feature a pitching duel between Baltimore’s Cade Povich and Detroit’s Reese Olson. Povich (2-9, 5.74 ERA), a rookie left-hander, has shown flashes of promise despite his struggles this season. In his last start, he struck out eight Tigers over five innings, allowing just two runs in a tough road loss. Povich has recorded 23 strikeouts over 17 innings this month and will look to secure his third win of the season, both of his previous victories coming at home.

Detroit’s Reese Olson (4-8, 3.50 ERA) will take the mound in his second start since returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for nearly two months. Olson’s return was rocky, as he gave up four runs in just 2 1/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, but the Tigers managed to win the game 7-6. Detroit will need a better performance from Olson if they hope to even the series against the surging Orioles.

Orioles Seeking Consistency as Playoff Push Heats Up

Baltimore’s resurgence at the plate could not have come at a better time. Their recent struggles to string together wins threatened to derail their postseason hopes, but this offensive explosion suggests they may be hitting their stride just in time. The power displayed in Friday’s win was reminiscent of their earlier-season form, when home runs seemed as common as singles.

Anthony Santander, who homered in the first inning on Friday, has been a key contributor during this stretch. His walk-off home run in Thursday’s win over the San Francisco Giants gave the Orioles back-to-back victories for the first time in nearly three weeks. Santander’s continued power will be essential as Baltimore aims to carry this momentum into their upcoming series against the Yankees.

“Hopefully it’s a momentum thing that we keep on riding out through the end of the season,” McCann said, expressing the team’s hope that this offensive surge is just the beginning of a strong finish.

Tigers Must Rebound to Stay in Wild Card Hunt

For the Tigers, Saturday’s game represents a critical juncture in their playoff push. With only a game separating them from the Twins in the Wild Card standings, every game carries playoff implications. Detroit’s offense, led by Meadows and Spencer Torkelson, has been potent during their recent hot streak, but the team will need to refocus after being shut down by Baltimore’s pitching on Friday.

Reese Olson’s ability to bounce back from his shaky return will be vital for Detroit. The Tigers have played well when Olson is on the mound, winning all three games he started in July before his injury. If Olson can regain his pre-injury form, the Tigers will have a solid chance of turning the series around.

Conclusion: High Stakes for Both Teams

As the Orioles and Tigers face off in the second game of this critical series, both teams are playing with their postseason dreams on the line. For Baltimore, maintaining their offensive momentum is key to staying in the hunt for the AL East title. For Detroit, a bounce-back performance is necessary to keep pace in the Wild Card race.

The matchup between Cade Povich and Reese Olson adds intrigue, with both pitchers looking to prove themselves in high-pressure situations. For fans, this game is set to deliver exciting baseball as both teams fight to stay in contention.

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